THE HISTORY PUTNAM COUXTY, N. Y.; WITH AN ENUMERATION OF ITS TOWNS, VILLAGES, RIVERS, CREEKS, LAKES, PONDS, MOUNTAINS, HILLS, AND GEOLOGICAL FEATURES ; LOCAL TRADITIONS ; AND SHORT BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF EABLY SETTLEBI, ETC* BY WILLIAM J. BLAKE, ESQ., COUNSELLOR-AT-LAW. NEW YORK: PUBLISHED BY BAKER & SCRIBNER, 146 Nassau Street,- irnd 36 Park Row. 1S49. GenealogyCDs.com Specializing in New York, New Jersey and Neighboring Areas Genealogy Data-Ware© at affordable Prices!! Thank You for Purchasing from GenealogyCDs.com It is our sincere hope that you enjoy your purchase and find it useful in you at home Research. For an up to date listings of our current products please visit us at: http://genealogycds.com PREFACE. WE hardly know what excuse to offer the reader, for daring to introduce our little work into his literary presence, and lay his time under an embargo for its perusal. We have not written for fame or profit. Had we done either, or both, we would have selected a different subject than the history of a little County like that of Putnam. What we have written is the result of leisure hours, which might possibly have been squandered in the pursuit of a less worthy object, pro- ductive of no benefit to self or community. If we have garnered up one fact that was in danger of being lost, and which is beneficial and worthy to be pre- served, in a historical point of view, we are satisfied and rewarded for our labor. That our little work is defective, no oljb is ' m6r&.... ... th.3r;6hgjNi-'satisfied, and ready to admit *iC~TSO: -. than 'o;irr'k&he self. Our sources of informatiw hXvc beer, liarrow and limited, and in many instances 'defkctive. ' ' A generation his $443-. a~a5iiZ this County, from whom valuable Revolutionary infirmation might have been obtained. In addition to this, the records of the different towns in some instances have been def'i'aced, by accident, we presume, and become obscure by PREFACE. lapse of time ; rendering the record unintelligible and valueless to the delver in search of the treasures of the past. We had intended to incorporate an outline view of Dutchess County in our little work, but finding that it would increase our pages beyond a given number, we were necessitated to withhold the article already pre- pared. HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY' GENERAL VIEFIT OF THE COUKTY. PUTKABXwas erected ~vholly from Dutchess, June 12th, 1812 ; and was named in honor of Major-Gene- ral Israel Putnam, who was stationed for some time, during the ~evblutionar~war, in the lower part of this county, and at Peekskill in the couilty of West- Chester. It is situated on the east side of the IIudsoc river, between 41" 20' and 41" 30' north latitude, and 20 56' and 3" 26' east longitude, from Washington. It is bounded northerly. bv .' the county of Dutchess, east- erly by the State of Connecticut, southerly by the county of Westchester, and westerly by the Hudson river, which separates it from the counties of Rock- land and Orange. Its area is about 216 square miles. Its population in 1840, was 12,825; and in 1845, 13,258. It contains six towns, viz. : Philipstown, Pritnam Valley, Southeast, Carmel, Patterson, and Rent. I; was originally called the South Precinct of Dutchess county, and about 1740, the Fredericksburgh Pre- cinct, embracing the whole of Putnam. As early as 1772, the present town of Philipstown, including Put- nam Valley, was erected in a precinct, by the name 2 14 JIISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY. of "Philipse Precinct ;" and, in 1773, the town of Southeast mas organized as a separate precinct, by the name of the "Southeast Precinct." This left in the FredericksburqhL Precinct, oaly the towns of Car- mel, Rent, and Patterson. By the Act of March 7th7 1788, the terms precincts were dropped, and "Phi- lipse Precinct," was called Philipstown ; " Southeast Precinct," Southeast town ; Fredericksburgh Pre- cinct," Frederick's tomn. Philipstown is named in honor of the Philips family, a member of which patented the whole of this county ; Frederick's town, in honor of the christian name of Capt. Frederick Philips, who inherited one third part of it, and Southeast, from its geogrqphical position with respect to the other towns. The geographical shape or figure of this county, is a geometrical rectangle, having its angles right angles, without having its sides equal. It stretches, like a garter, from the Hudson to the Connecticut line ; be- ing, in a straight line, about twenty miles in length, and twelve in breadth. Carmel and Patterson were organized in 1795, from Frederick's tomn. This left Frederick's town emlracing only the now town of Kent, which name was given to it about this time, in honor of the Kent family. Patterson, in 1795, was organized by the name ofccFranklin," in honor of the old revolutionary philosopher and patriot; but, in a few years thereafter, it was changed to Patterson, in honor of the family of that name, who were early set- tlers there. Putnam Valley was erected in 1839, by the name of " Quincy," after the town of that name in Massachusetts, wholly from Philipstown ; but in 1810, the name was changed to the one it now bears. GENERAL VIEW OF THE COUXTY. 15 - The eastern part of the county is uneven and hilly, v yet very productive, and under a high state of culti- vation. The central and western portions are broken by high hills and inountain elevations. The High- lands stretch across its west end, casting their sombre shadows on the noble river, that laves its western boundary. They are estimated at 1,500 feet above the level of the Hudson. Through the central High- lands, run two valleys, called Peekskill and Cnnopus Hollows; and between them and thc IIudsoi~lies a beautiful vale, called Pleasant valley, extending from the Westcilester to the Dutchcss line. The mountain slopes and valleys are productive and well-cultivated. The Muscoot river, with the east and west branches of the Crotou, are the only streams of any importance. There are several brooks and creeks, which furnish sufficient water power, for the milling purpose of the country. Iron is found in abuudance in the moun- tains; and, though bleak and barren, as appear these rock-ribs of earth, they are the repositories of exhaust- less wealth, which requires but the hand of industry, to unlock and scatter to the world." Extract from the record of t,he minutes of the first Court held in t,he couut.y, after it,s organization. ': October Tel-rn, 1812. ':At a Court of General Sessions of the Peace, held at the Baptist meeting-house, in the town of Carmel, in and for the county of Putnam, Tuesday the 20th day of October, 1812. " Present, STEPHENBARSUM, ROBERTJOI-IXSON, Jz~dges and Justices BARNABASCARVER, 1 of the Peace. HARRYGARRISOX, J LkProclamationthat Sheriff return precept, and other precept6 returnable here this day. 16 HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY. William H. Johnston, High Sheriff of said county, returns the -1 with the panel of Gwnd Jurors. The panel being called, the following grand jurors appear and answer, and were sworn, to wit, Joshua Barnnm, junior, William Field, Jonathan Morehonee, Jesse Brush: Kathaniel Forgusan, Silas Whitney, Abijah Seely, Edward Vermilier, Joseph Cole, junior, Daniel Thorn, Benjamin H. Miller, John Austin, Tracy Ballard, Judah Relley, Jeremiah Hopkins, Ebenezcr Boyd, Rowland Bailey, Joshua I-lazen, Abel Pecl;, John EIyatt, junior, Abraham Smith, Jeremiah Conklin, and Amos Conklin. LL ~;oclamation, that all Justices of the Peace, Coroners, Sheriffs, and other officers, that have taken any inquisitions or recognizances, to hand thcm into Court, that the Justices of the people nlay proceed thereon. 'L Proclamation, that all constables appear and answer. The list being called, the fol1011-ing constables appeared, and an- swered, to x-it : Robert Post, Philips ; James Randal, Frederic ; Jersham Jacocke, Fattcraon ; Le\i-is Balccr, Southeast ; Jesse Hill, Carrnel. L1 Proclainatioo ior those TV~IO are bou~ltlin recog[):i:anc~3 to. appear and answer. ':Court adjouriled till half after three, P. M. Court met pur- suant to adjournment. " Present, ';On application to this Court, of Abraham Smith, foreman of the Grand Jury, that they have no district Attorney. Ordered that G. W. Marvin serve as such, dnring this Session. Court adjourned, till to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock. '; Wednesday, 21st October, 1812. LL Court met pursuant to adjournment. 'LPresent, the same Judges. LL Court adjourned till 3 o'clock, P. M. LL Court met pursuant to adjournment. '' Present the same Judges. GEOLOGY. 17 " The People os. Moses Northrup. "Indictment for an assault with intent to kill. Defendant pleaded not guilty. Ordered that this suit be suspended, till to- morrow morning, at 10 ~~clocli.~ " Tfie People cs. Turtulus Rzc.csel. '& Indictment for ar, assault and miadeineaaol-. " Court adjournetl: till 10 o'clock, to-morrow morning." .4s might be inferred, from the geological charac- ter of this count,y, its mineral productions are of much interest. Pursuing the order which has been hereto- fore adopted, it may be observed, that in iron ore, this county is peculiarly rich. It contains several beds or veins of the nlagiletic bind, which yield ore of the best quality, and in the greatest abundance. Of carbonate of lime, in the for111 of calcareous spar, and marble, there are several localities. The latter term, however, is usually applied here, to a dolomite, similar to that of Dutchess county, and which is found abtuldantly, in the vicinity of Patter- son. The only objection to this material for con- struction, is its friable character.t Being a com- pound of the carbonates of lime, and magnesia; it has been thought that the product of its calcination, is not so valuable, as a fertilizing agent, as that which con- tains lime alone.